Hummelstown, PA (May 05, 2015) – Oncoceutics, Inc. announced publication of a research article in the journal Molecular Cancer, which describes the discovery of ONC201 as a selective lead compound with a novel chemical structure and novel mechanism of action that warranted clinical testing.
In an attempt to identify inducers of tumor cell death that spare normal cells and overcome therapeutic resistance, a small molecule library that represents 140,000 compounds was screened to identify compounds that fulfill certain molecular criteria to enable this profile. Using a series of in vitro and in vivo assays, ONC201 was the only compound to show significant apoptosis in tumor cells without harming normal cells by employing pathways that are highly conserved within the immune-oncology armamentarium. The uniqueness of its biological activity is similarly mirrored in its molecular structure, which possesses a pharmacophore that is unique among 63 million publicly indexed molecules. This study cumulatively indicates that ONC201 is a selectively active antitumor agent that possesses a novel mechanism of action that includes, but extends well beyond, the induction of the TRAIL gene, and it highlights the therapeutic potential of this novel class of anticancer drugs.
“Even during the discovery process, it was immediately apparent that ONC201 has a clearly differentiated mechanism that translates to an uncommonly favorable safety and efficacy profile relative to many cancer drugs that are on the market,” said Joshua Allen, PhD, VP-Research & Development of Oncoceutics.
“The majority of conventional cancer therapies and even more modern targeted therapies have significant toxicities that can limit their use in patients. This article describes the discovery process that identified ONC201 as a mutation-agnostic and non-toxic anti-cancer agent that kills cancer cells and that may be an option when other therapies are no longer effective,” commented Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, Professor of Oncology, Co-Program Leader of Molecular Therapeutics, Deputy Cancer Center Director for Translational Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Scientific Founder of Oncoceutics and senior author of the article.
The link to the journal article is available here.
About Fox Chase Cancer Center
Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of the Temple University Health System, is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet status for excellence four consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. For more information, visit Fox Chase’s web site at www.foxchase.org or call 1-888-FOX CHASE or (1-888-369-2427).
About Oncoceutics
Oncoceutics, Inc. is a drug discovery and development company targeting the most potent suppressor pathways in human cancer. The first lead compound to result from this program is ONC201, a small molecule drug with a unique mechanism of action that causes significant anti-tumor activity in a variety of types of human cancer. The Company is currently enrolling patients in clinical trials of ONC201, which began in January 2015, following acceptance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ONC201 in 2014. Oncoceutics and collaborative groups have received approximately $5 million in grants over the last two years from the National Institutes of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and The Musella Foundation, and the company has leveraged additional funding from academic medical research partners that support multiple Phase I/II Clinical trials.
Visit Oncoceutics or contact Carinna Gano for more information.
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